Sailing school

We recommend you book your place in advance by contacting us at sailingschool@navigare-yachting.com. Please let us know your full name, contact details, and preferred date of the course. Our manager will contact you within the next 24 hours to confirm your booking or propose alternative options to learn to sail.

The Navigare Sailing School fee is paid in 2 installments:

• 1^st payment: 50% of total cost, payable within 5 working days after your confirmation
• 2^nd payment: 50% of total cost, payable 30 days prior to start of the school

If preferred, you may settle the Croatia sailing school total in one payment. Receipt of funds will confirm booking. Because there is high demand and places in each group are limited, we suggest you book or request your desired dates as soon as possible.

School usually begins on a Saturday. Students arrive at Seget Donji in Trogir, get familiar with the yachts, and get acquainted with the other members of the group. In the evening, you are free to go for a walk and buy some souvenirs, have dinner out at a restaurant, or cook on the yacht. This provides an opportunity to rest from your trip and adjust to the climate.

Sunday morning, you get to know the yacht itself: water system, toilet, what may and may not be done on board, safety rules, internal space of the boat, and our route for two weeks. Your team then goes to the store together, with the instructor, to do grocery shopping.

After filling the fridge, you are ready to begin your Croatia sailing school adventure: for the next two weeks, your instructor will teach you the rules of sailing.

The first sailing day begins before 8am and is meant to be gentle: everyone has a chance to maneuver the yacht to get a feeling how, why, and which direction the boat is moving. After two hours studying sailing theory, you're ready to take charge again and put your new knowledge into practice. Every student has individual time to practice each task and to take the role of skipper, by assigning tasks and orders and managing the crew.

We arrive at a new bay or harbor by sunset and the process repeats each day for two weeks, but every day with new information and new places to explore. 

At the end of two weeks, after successful completion of the course, you receive your Bareboat Skipper License and all the opportunities for sailing and holidays on the sea are open to you. Each student of Navigare Sailing School can return to us and receive additional practice or rent a bareboat at a special “Sailing School Student” price!

We have some of the newest boats available from our fleet. Both types are among the most popular in the bareboat charters industry. Review boat descriptions at the following links:

• SO 439 “Fama”
• SO 439 “Malin”

All IYT Certificates have an expiration date and must be renewed every five years. After you have completed the course, you can register at the IYT website and receive your unique code number. After five years, you can update your personal information on the website if necessary and order a new certificate. The price of certificate renewal may vary slightly, but is currently US$75, including delivery.

You can order a transfer to the marina while confirming your school registration. The transfer picks you up at the airport arrival terminal and takes you directly to your boat. Once you arrive, please contact the Navigare office and the staff will assist you. Should you arrive the day before, we can recommend local hotels or, in case we have available boats, you have a choice of sleeping on board for the extra price of €25/person per night.

Currently, all courses are held in English, including sea terminology. However, you can request a course in Russian or Croatian languages, in case the group formed prefers one of these options.

Try to keep it as simple as possible. This list varies according to the season. For the hot weather period (until mid-September) the following list applies:

• Personal hygiene products
• Personal first-aid kit and sunscreen or sunblock cream
• Sailing gloves
• Non-slip shoes or boots
• Windbreaker jacket w/ hood
• Fleece jacket
• Light t-shirts, short-sleeves and long-sleeves
• Sunglasses
• Shorts
• Swimsuits
• Flip-flops

However, even warm destinations on the open sea can get rough. We advise adding the following items in case the weather conditions are colder:

• Thermal underwear
• Waterproof shoes
• Drysuit

We recommend packing everything in soft bags, since they are much easier to stow away. Please note that the boat is equipped with life jackets, two towels per person, bed linens, and a dinghy.

The test for the IYT Bareboat Skipper Certificate is divided into a theoretical and a practical component. The Sailing Theory test consists of 50 questions, which you will answer in written form. All questions are based on the knowledge you've obtained during the course. Each question is scored from one to five points and the minimum passing score is 75 total points.

During the Practical Sailing test, your actual sailing skills will be assessed. You will need to prove your skills and ability to manage a boat as a skipper, including the responsibility of managing your crew. Mistakes made by your crew are your mistakes! Additionally, you must successfully execute all orders given by your instructor. No mistakes are accepted during this portion of the test, except for minor errors in setting the sails.

Please be aware that on receiving the IYT Bareboat Skipper Certificate, you are responsible for the lives of all people on board your boat.

After your registration is confirmed and the deposit paid, you may request your Course Notes via email. Please contact your school administrator at sailingschool@navigare-yachting.com.

Our program includes all your expenses, except your flights, transfers, and meals. Breakfast and lunch are usually cooked on board, dinners are either eaten ashore at a nearby restaurant or cooked on board as well, upon agreement. Please note soups and meat dishes are not practical to cook while sailing. The main menu typically consists of eggs, salads, cheeses, fruits, mueslis, and yogurts.

The expense for food per person usually does not exceed €25 per day. All additional expenses depend on your own shopping habits, including the number of souvenirs you are planning to purchase.

Learn to sail holidays in Croatia are open to almost everyone and Navigare Yachting Sailing School provides an opportunity for people of all backgrounds and ages to discover how fun, safe, inspiring, and affordable sailing is!